[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 409 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]


  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

                  In the Senate of the United States,

                                                    September 29, 2006.
    Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 
409) entitled ``An Act to provide for the exchange of land within the 
Sierra National Forest, California, and for other purposes.'', do pass 
with the following

                               AMENDMENT:

            Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sierra National Forest Land Exchange 
Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Sequoia 
        Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
            (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the 
        parcel of land comprising 160 acres and located in E\1/2\SW\1/
        4\ and W\1/2\SE\1/4\, sec. 30, T. 9 S., R. 25 E., Mt. Diablo 
        Meridian, California.
            (3) Non-federal land.--The term ``non-Federal land'' means 
        a parcel of land comprising approximately 80 acres and located 
        in N\1/2\NW\1/4\, sec. 29, T. 8 S., R. 26 E., Mt. Diablo 
        Meridian, California.
            (4) Project no. 67.--The term ``Project No. 67'' means the 
        hydroelectric project licensed pursuant to the Federal Power 
        Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.) as Project No. 67.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.

SEC. 3. LAND EXCHANGE, SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA.

    (a) Exchange Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--If, during the 1-year period beginning on 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the owner of the non-Federal 
        land offers to convey to the United States title to the non-
        Federal land and to make a cash equalization payment of $50,000 
        to the United States, the Secretary shall convey to the owner 
        of the non-Federal land, all right, title, and interest of the 
        United States in and to the Federal land, except as provided in 
        subsection (d), subject to valid existing rights, and under 
        such terms and conditions as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Correction and modification of legal descriptions.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation 
                with the owner of the non-Federal land, may agree to 
                make corrections to the legal descriptions of the 
                Federal land and non-Federal land.
                    (B) Modifications.--The Secretary and the owner of 
                the non-Federal land may agree to make minor 
                modifications to the legal descriptions if the 
                modifications do not affect the overall value of the 
                exchange by more than 5 percent.
    (b) Valuation of Land To Be Conveyed.--For purposes of this 
section, during the period referred to in subsection (a)(1)--
            (1) the value of the non-Federal land shall be considered 
        to be $200,000; and
            (2) the value of the Federal land shall be considered to be 
        $250,000.
    (c) Administration of Land Acquired by United States.--On 
acquisition by the Secretary, the Secretary shall manage the non-
Federal land in accordance with--
            (1) the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the ``Weeks 
        Act'') (16 U.S.C. 480 et seq.); and
            (2) any other laws (including regulations) applicable to 
        the National Forest System.
    (d) Conditions on Conveyance of Federal Land.--The conveyance by 
the Secretary under subsection (a) shall be subject to the conditions 
that--
            (1) the recipient of the Federal land convey all 160 acres 
        of the Federal land to the Council not later than 120 days 
        after the date on which the recipient receives title to the 
        Federal land;
            (2) in accordance with section 4(a), the Secretary grant to 
        the owner of Project No. 67 an easement; and
            (3) in accordance with section 4(b), the owner of Project 
        No. 67 has the right of first refusal regarding any 
        reconveyance of the Federal land by the Council.
    (e) Disposition and Use of Cash Equalization Funds.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall deposit the cash 
        equalization payment received under subsection (a)(1) in the 
        fund established by Public Law 90-171 (commonly known as the 
        ``Sisk Act'') (16 U.S.C. 484a).
            (2) Use.--Amounts deposited under paragraph (1) shall be 
        available to the Secretary until expended, without further 
        appropriation, for the acquisition of land and any interests in 
        land for the National Forest System in the State of California.
    (f) Cost Collection Funds.--
            (1) In general.--The owner of the non-Federal land shall 
        pay to the Secretary all direct costs associated with 
        processing the land exchange under this section.
            (2) Cost collection account.--
                    (A) In general.--Any amounts received by the 
                Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in a 
                cost collection account.
                    (B) Use.--Amounts deposited under subparagraph (A) 
                shall be available to the Secretary until expended, 
                without further appropriation, for the costs associated 
                with the land exchange.
                    (C) Refund.--The Secretary shall provide to the 
                owner of the non-Federal land a refund of any amounts 
                remaining in the cost collection account after 
                completion of the land exchange that are not needed to 
                cover expenses of the land exchange.
    (g) Land and Water Conservation Fund.--For purposes of section 7 of 
the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-9), 
the boundaries of the Sierra National Forest shall be considered to be 
the boundaries of the Sierra National Forest as of January 1, 1965.

SEC. 4. GRANT OF EASEMENT AND RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

    In accordance with the agreement entered into by the Forest 
Service, the Council, and the owner of Project No. 67 entitled the 
``Agreement to Convey Grant of Easement and Right of First Refusal'' 
and executed on April 17, 2006--
            (1) the Secretary shall grant an easement to the owner of 
        Project No. 67; and
            (2) the Council shall grant a right of first refusal to the 
        owner of Project No. 67.

SEC. 5. EXERCISE OF DISCRETION.

    In exercising any discretion necessary to carry out this Act, the 
Secretary shall ensure that the public interest is well served.

SEC. 6. GRANTS TO IMPROVE THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF FOREST BIOMASS FOR 
              ELECTRIC ENERGY, USEFUL HEAT, TRANSPORTATION FUELS, AND 
              OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

    Section 210(d) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
15855(d)) is amended by striking ``$50,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2006 through 2016'' and inserting ``$50,000,000 for fiscal year 
2006 and $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2016''.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
109th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 409

_______________________________________________________________________

                               AMENDMENT